A bus driver who had just dropped of school kids has been fined for running
the gauntlet at a level crossing.

Marcus Lamm, 21, tried to squeeze through the closing barriers across the railway in Manningtree, Essex, as these dramatic CCTV pictures show.

But he got stuck behind a slow agricultural vehicle and did not make it across before the barriers closed, trapping him on the tracks.

The First bus was empty, apart from the driver, but had only just dropped off children from local schools.

Lamm, of Willow Way, Jaywick, admitted driving without due care and attention when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard how his driving blunder was spotted on CCTV and the operator was able to raise the gates before a train came. Lamm told the court he had not seen the warning lights and thought he had enough time to get across.

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Representing himself, he said: "I had been sitting waiting for the train to come past with the barrier down.

"It came up and I followed with the traffic that was moving.

"It was safe at the time. I didn't see any lights as I went through but obviously they were flashing.

"I don't know what happened between me moving off and getting stuck."

Lamm, a former Tendring Technology College student, said he has lost his job with First as a result of the incident on July 19. He is now a bus driver with New Horizon Travel, in Frating.

Lamm was given a £300 fine, £100 court costs and had nine points on his licence. Chairman of the bench Michael Mitchinson refused to believe Lamm had not seen the warning lights. He added: "It is clear the lights turned before you even moved off.

"We accept you were following a tractor but you shouldn't have followed unless it was safe to clear the railway lines.